Apparatus for applying sheets to printing cylinders



Dec. 25,1923, 1,478,941

W. GAMBLE ET AL mmnmus FOR APPLYING smms T0 PRINTING .cYLmnER FiledMarch 19 1923 Fatented Dec. 25, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1 PATENT tries.

WILLIAM GAMBLE AND MALCOLIWIOWEN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND; SAID GAMBLE AS- ISIGNOR TO A. W. PENROSE'AND COMPANY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SHEETS TQ PRINTING CYLINDERS.

Application filed March 19,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, l/VILLiAu GAMBLE and MALooLM OWEN, both subjects ofthe Kingof Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented.certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Applying Sheets toPrinting Cylinders, of. which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to apparatusfor applying sheets for use asprinting surfaces to printingv cylinders.

,The main object is to. obtain a firmand even surface on, the shcetafterwrapping has been effected, so that the best printing results areobtainable and especially so that sheets may be removed and replaced oncylinders and can be kept for further work if desired.

Another object is to construct in as simple a form aspossible anapparatus adapted to put the sheet under tension over its whole areaduring the whole wrapping operation.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated a preferred constructionembodying the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tension apparatus; and Fig. 2 is aplan of the tension apparatus. 7

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate longitudinaland transverse members of a framework, at one end of which is disposedon the longitudinals, bearings 3 for the reception of a spindle 4adapted to carry a printing cylinder, indicated by the numeral Thebearings are open at the top so that the spindle may be immediatelyremoved, if required, by lifting it from the bearings.

On the spindle at one end, outside a bearing 3, is fixed a worm wheel.6, and fitted on the adjacent longitudinal is a worm 7, adapted to beoperated by any means, such, for instance, as the handle 8.

At the other end of the framework, bearings 9 are arranged on thelongitudinals in the same manner as the bearings3, the bearings 9 alsobeing preferably open for the direct reception of a spindle 10, on whichis mounted a sprocket wheel llarranged centrally of the frame. At oneend of the spindle 10 is mounted a brake drum 12, about which is fitteda friction device 13,

1923. Serial No. 626,091.

which may be adjustable. about the drum by means of the device 1a, thesegmentsof the braking device being pivotally connected, as indicated at15, to an adjacent portion of a longitudinal member 1. The rotation ofthe member 14 causes the segments ofthe device 13 tomove about theirpivot inorder to vary the frictional engagement with the drum 12. Fixednear theperiphcry of the sprocket wheel 11 is achain 16,

which is adapted towrap round the sprocket wheel, and which carries atits free end a clamping element 17 for attachment of a sheet 18 intendedto bewound aroundthe printing cylinder 5. In order to maintain thecla'mpingbar'parallelwith the axis 10, theclamping bar is connected tothe chain 16 bymeans of ablock 19 carrying a toothed wheel 20, overwhich passes a second chain or other flexible. member 21, connected toboth ends of the clamping bar.

In use, one end of the sheet 18 is fitted to the usual gap 22 formed inthe printing cylinder, and the other end .is attached to the clampingbar 17. The sprocket wheel is then rotated to coil the chain around ituntil the sheet 18 is pulled out and strained under tension. The brakingdevice is then applied until it prevents any reverse rotation of thespindle 10 which would slacken the tension in the sheet. Due to theposition of the bearings oneto another on the platform, the sheet, whenso strained, is disposed tangentially to the periphery of the cylinder5; then to wrap the sheet 18 around the cylinder:5,ythe worm 7 isrotated, and by gearing with the worm wheel 6, causes the cylinder 5,mounted on the spindle 4, to

be rotated away from the tensioning device and to wrap the sheet 18around it, while the tension applied to the sheet is maintained.

It may here be pointed out that the worm 7 prevents a reverse rotationof the cylinder 5 which (1161361181011 of the sheet tends to effect. Thesheet having been wrapped entirely round the cylinder until its endattached to the clamping bar 17 overlaps the gap 22 in the cylinder,that end of the sheet is then fixed within the gap and the clamping barreleased from the sheet, when any extra material may be removed. Aconvenient method of fixing the end of the sheet (held by the clampingbar) within the gap is described in our concurrent application SerialNo. 587,014.

from said tensioning device.

2. Apparatus for applying sheets to a printing cylinder, comprising thecombination With a support, of bearings on said support, a spindleadapted to carry a printing cylinder carried by said bearings, gearingfor rotating said spindle, a tensioning device including a rotatablemember mounted in bearings carried by said support at a fixed distancefrom the first mentioned bearings, a brake drum carried by saidrotatable member, adjustable friction means operating With said brakedrum, connecting means having one end fixed to said rotatable member andadapted to be coiled thereon, and at the other end fastening means forattachment to a sheet to be Wrapped on a cylinder, and means forpreventing reverse rotation of said spindle under effort from saidtensioning device.

3. Apparatus for applying sheets to a printing cylinder, comprising thecombina tion With a support, of bearings on said sup port, a spindleadapted to carry a printing cylinder carried by said bearings, gearingfor rotating said spindle, a tensioning device including a rotatablemember mounted in bearings carried by said support at a fixed distancefrom the first mentioned bearings, a brake drum carried by saidrotatable member, adjustable friction means operating With said brakedrum, a sprocket Wheel carried for rotation With said rotatable member,a chain fixed at one end on the periphery vof said sprocket Wheel, aclamp connected to the other end of said chain, and means for preventingreverse rotation of said spindle under effort from said tensioningdevice. a V

4. Apparatus for applying sheets to a printing cylinder, comprising thecombination with a support, of bearings on said sup port, a spindleadapted to carry a printing cylinder carried by said bearings, a WormWheel on said spindle, a Worm engaging said Worm Wheel, a handle foroperating said Worm, a tensioning device including a rotatable membermounted in bearings carried by said support at a fixed distance from thefirst mentioned bearings, a brake drum carried by said rotatable member,adjustable friction means operating With said brake drum, a sprocketWheel carried for rotation With said rotatable member, a chain fixed atone end on the peripheryof said sprocket Wheel, and a clamp connected tothe other end of said chain. a

5. Apparatus for applying sheets to a printing cylinder, comprising thecombination With a support, of bearings on said support, a spindleadapted to carry a printing cylinder carried by said bearings, a WormWheel on said spindle, a Worm engaging said Worm Wheel, a handle foroperating said Worm, a tensioning device including a rotatable membermounted in bearings carried by said support at a. fixed distance fromthe first mentioned bearings, a brake drum carried by said rotatablemember, adjustable friction means operating with said brake drum, asprocket Wheel carried for rotation with said rotatable member, a chainfixed at one end on the periphery of said sprocket Wheel, a block fittedto the other end of said chain, a toothed Wheel carried in said block, aclamp, and a flexible member connecting the ends of the clamp andpassing over said toothed Wheel.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

WILLIAM GAMBLE. MALCOLM OWEN.

